Beyoncé hospital denies taking $1.3m for private floor

The hospital in which Beyoncé gave birth this week has denied taking a $1.3m (£840,000) payment to shut off part of the facility for her.

It has been claimed since the birth of Blue Ivy on Saturday (January 7) that the 'Countdown' singer and husband Jay-Z were given an entire floor of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City to themselves, with bodyguards keeping members of the general public away.

A representative for the medical center has responded by telling TMZ that the reports are "simply not true".

"The family is housed in an executive suite at the hospital and is being billed the standard rate for those accommodations. Our executive suites are available for any patient, including the food service and amenities provided to the family," they said.

"The family does have its own security detail on site. However, the hospital has been and continues to be in control of managing all security at the facility. We have made every effort to ensure minimal disruption to other families experiencing the births of their own children over the past three days."

The spokesperson concluded: "Lenox Hill Hospital takes patient privacy and safety very seriously. And while we congratulate the Carter family on the birth of their child, we value the loyalty of all our patients and always strive to ensure a positive experience, knowing that the birth of a child is a wonderful moment producing memories of a lifetime."

The statement follows claims that a group of new mothers are about to file a lawsuit against Lenox Hill, apparently feeling "neglected" by the "extremely rude" treatment they received while Beyoncé was hospitalized.

There have been conflicting reports from eyewitnesses regarding any special treatment that the singer received.

One expectant mother told E! that she had been "almost restrained" by security along with her children when she came too close to Beyoncé's room, while another insisted that patients with appointments were able to walk through.

"It was the best experience of both of our lives," they said. "Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven. We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support."